Ethnic differences in labour market participation, health and sickness absence among parents caring for disabled or chronically ill children

• Reisel, Liza; Nadim, Marjan & Brekke, Idunn (2020). The impact of having a child with special needs: Labour market adaptations of immigrant and majority mothers. Acta Sociologica. 64(4), p. 403–419. doi: 10.1177/0001699320971695. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This article compares how having a child with special needs shapes the labour market adaptations of immigrant and majority mothers. We use longitudinal data from Norwegian public registers including all women who gave birth between 2001 and 2005 (N = 104,988), and follow the mothers from two years before birth to four years after birth. We find generally large differences in employment and income among immigrant and majority mothers. Majority mothers typically adapt to the intensified care responsibilities associated with having a child with special needs by working somewhat less, but most importantly by combining work with high levels of long-term sickness absence. By contrast, immigrant mothers substantially reduce their work intensity (as measured through labour earnings) after childbirth regardless of whether their child has special needs. Among immigrant mothers whose child has special needs, we do not find elevated sickness absence levels comparable to that of majority mothers. Given the already reduced work intensity among immigrant mothers in the years following the birth of their child, we do not find additional labour market consequences of intensified care responsibilities within this group of mothers.

• Brekke, Idunn; Richardsen, Kåre Rønn & Jenum, Anne Karen (2019). Sickness absence in pregnancy: associations with sedentary behavior. A population-based cohort study from Norway. BMC Public Health. 19(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-6379-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Sickness absence in pregnancy accounts for a large part of sickness-related absenteeism among women. Exercise in pregnancy is associated with a lower level of sickness absence, however little is known about how sedentary behaviour is related to sickness absence in pregnancy. In the current study, we hypothesize a positive association between sedentary hours/day and the risk of long-term sickness absence. Methods Population-based cohort study of pregnant women attending three Child Health Clinics in Groruddalen, Oslo, 823 Women (74% of those eligible) were included between 2008 and 2010. Questionnaire data were collected at gestational weeks 10–20 (visit 1) and 28 (visit 2). Sedentary time and physical activity were objectively recorded at visit 1 with the multi-sensor SenseWear™ Pro3 Armband (SWA). Long-term sickness absence was self-reported at visit 2. We explored the association between sedentary time and long-term sickness absence in pregnancy using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The odds of long-term sickness absence was significantly increased per one-hour increase in daily sedentary time (odds ratio 1.45 [95% confidence interval 1.13–1.84]), providing support for our hypothesis that sedentary time is positively associated with long-term sickness absence. Conclusions Pregnant women with a sedentary lifestyle have a higher risk of long-term sickness absence from work. Reducing sedentary time in pregnancy may improve health, and may, in turn reduce sickness absence in pregnancy.

• Früh, Elena Albertini; Lidén, Hilde & Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal (2017). Tillit til velferdstjenester? Innvandrerforeldre med barn med spesielle behovs møter med hjelpeapparatet. Tidsskrift for velferdsforskning. 20(3), p. 191–208. doi: 10.18261/issn.2464-3076-2017-03-02. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Artikkelen belyser hvordan foreldre med innvandrerbakgrunn beskriver tillit til velferdstjenester når de har et barn med spesielle behov, og hvordan dette innvirker på deres tilhørighet i samfunnet. Studien består av 27 individuelle og 3 fokusgruppeintervjuer med foreldre med innvandrerbakgrunn. Resultatene viser at selv om de har stor tiltro til helse- og velferdstjenestene, vil hyppige erfaringer av mangelfull informasjon, ressursmangel og avslag på søknader om selektive ordninger redusere tilliten til ordningene og personer i systemet. Kunnskap om systemet og at det finnes hjelpere tilgjengelig, er viktig for å sikre et mer tilpasset oppfølgingstilbud for familiene. Dette bidrar også til å utvikle mer likeverdige relasjoner og kan styrke tillitsforhold til institusjoner og deres representanter.

• Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal; Früh, Elena Albertini & Lidén, Hilde (2017). How do immigrant parents of children with complex health needs manage to cope in their daily lives? Child & Family Social Work. 22(4), p. 1399–1406. doi: 10.1111/cfs.12358. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Daily life with children who have complex health needs can be stressful for parents. Immigrant parents are vulnerable to stress because they may lack language skills and knowledge about the health care system and have limited social networks. In this study, we focus on how immigrant parents of children with complex health needs use emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies to manage their daily life, and how their self-efficacy and the immigration process may affect their coping. This qualitative study had an exploratory design with individual and focus group interviews. The sample comprised 27 parents—18 mothers and 9 fathers—from Pakistan, Poland, and Vietnam. The findings indicated that the parents' love for their child helps them to cope in their daily life. Newly arrived migrants, single mothers with a severely ill child who lacked support and migrant parents with language difficulties struggle to cope. Some of the stress is related to personal, social and structural problems, and to the insufficient resources available to meet the child's needs. The parents used both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies. The parents noted that access to both universal and selective welfare services is an important factor that contributed to their self-efficacy and coping.

• Früh, Elena Albertini; Rachedi, Zineb & Lidén, Hilde (2017). "Avoir un enfant différent dans un pays où on est différent". Une étude des familles immigrées en Norvège. Enfances Familles Générations. doi: 10.7202/1045030ar. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Cadre de la recherche : En Norvège, vivre avec un enfant ayant des problèmes de santé est une réalité pour de nombreux parents et demande une adaptation de toute la famille ; cela peut être d’autant plus problématique pour des parents issus de l’immigration. Objectifs : Le présent article vise à comprendre comment les familles issues de différents types d’immigration gèrent le suivi de l’enfant ayant des besoins spécifiques. Méthodologie : Les données sont issues d’une recherche qualitative basée sur vingt-sept entretiens individuels semi-directifs et trois entretiens de groupe avec des parents immigrés ou issus de l’immigration. L’analyse inductive se fonde sur l’analyse de contenu des entretiens. Résultats : Vivre avec un enfant ayant des besoins spécifiques exige une redéfinition de l’investissement et des rôles de chacun des parents. On note, en effet, des stratégies conjugales et parentales qui prennent forme dans un rapport de genre marqué à la fois par des pratiques de changement et de reproduction. Pour les familles immigrées ayant un enfant aux besoins spécifiques, la question du travail aussi bien pour les hommes que pour les femmes est centrale tant elle montre la nécessité des bricolages, à la fois pour l’adaptation au mode de vie du pays d’accueil et pour sortir de « la famille soignante », où l’enfant est au centre des préoccupations. Conclusion : Les relations sociales (notamment par le travail ou par le maintien d’un réseau d’amis ou de la famille élargie) ainsi que le soutien apporté par les services médicosociaux restent des ressources précieuses pour faire face aux défis qu’entraînent le handicap ou la maladie chronique de l’enfant. Contributions: L’étude, réalisée en collaboration avec Lisbeth Gravdal Kvarme, est financée par The Research Council of Norway, dans le cadre du projet « Ethnic differences in labour market participation, health and sickness absence among parents caring for disabled or chronically ill children » ( no 227022/H20).

• Brekke, Idunn; Früh, Elena Albertini; Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal & Holmstrøm, Henrik (2017). Long-time sickness absence among parents of pre-school children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and down syndrome: a longitudinal study. BMC Pediatrics. 17(26). doi: 10.1186/s12887-016-0774-8. Full text in Research Archive
• Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal; Früh, Elena Albertini; Brekke, Idunn; Gardsjord, Ragnhild; Halvorsrud, Liv & Lidén, Hilde (2016). On duty all the time: Health and quality of life among immigrant parents caring for a child with complex health needs. Journal of Clinical Nursing (JCN). 25(3-4), p. 362–371. doi: 10.1111/jocn.13056. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Aims and objectives: To provide knowledge about how immigrant parents of children with complex health needs manage their family lives and how this affects their own health and quality of life. Background: Caregivers of children with complex health needs have additional risk for general health problems and mental health problems and immigrant parents may be more vulnerable to mental distress and failing health and quality of life. Results: Immigrant parents of children with complex health needs experience their own health and quality of life challenges. They described the burden of dealing with their child's needs and special care, which affects their sleep and physical and mental health. Single mothers are particularly vulnerable. Conclusion: Parents reported positive and negative effects of their caregiving experience that may affect their health and quality of life. Mothers were the primary caregivers and reported more health problems than did fathers. The lack of respite care, social networks and support impacted maternal health. Immigrant parents struggle to access resources for their child with complex health needs. Relevance to clinical practice: Hospital nurses, schools and community health care can play a valuable role in supporting the parents of children with complex health needs. It is important that parents are informed about their rights and receive a coordinator and interdisciplinary group to ensure that their needs are met with assistance and respite care. That maternal health was worse in this sample implies that health care professionals should pay more attention to reducing stress among these caregivers.

• Brekke, Idunn & Nadim, Marjan (2016). Gendered effects of intensified care burdens: Employment and sickness absence in families with chronically sick or disabled children in Norway. Work, Employment and Society. 31(3), p. 391–408. doi: 10.1177/0950017015625616. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Using longitudinal register data from Norway, the article examines the impact of having a child with intensified care needs on maternal and paternal employment, within a gender equality promoting welfare state. The hypothesis is that parents with a chronically sick or disabled child will have lower employment probabilities, lower labour earnings and higher sickness absence than parents with a healthy child, and that mothers are more affected than fathers when having a child with extra care needs. A quasi-experimental difference-in-difference regression model shows that the employment probabilities of parents with a sick or disabled child are comparable to those of parents with a healthy child, both for mothers and fathers. The analyses further reveal that having a chronically sick or disabled child reduces labour earnings and increases long-term sickness absence among mothers, while fathers’ labour earnings and sickness absence are less affected.

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• Brekke, Idunn & Vinck, Julie (2018). Who bears the burden? Gendered effects on parental employment when having a young child with a disability: Belgium and Norway compared. Full text in Research Archive
• Brekke, Idunn & Winck, Julie (2018). Who bears the burden in the social investment state? Gendered effects on parental employment when having a young child with increased care needs: Belgium and Norway compared. Full text in Research Archive
• Brekke, Idunn & Miriam, Evensen (2018). Ethnic variation in take up of attendance benefit for children with a chronic illness or disability in Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Lidén, Hilde & Früh, Elena Albertini (2017). Promoting social participation and quality of life of immigrant families to reduce future social inequality for families and children with long-term health challenges in Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Sonja, Balci & Brekke, Idunn (2017). Omsorg for funksjonshemmede barn går mest utover mors yrkesliv. [Internet]. Forskning.no. Full text in Research Archive
• Brekke, Idunn; Nadim, Marjan & Reisel, Liza (2016). Ethnic differences in labour market participation and sickness absence among mothers who care for disabled or chronically ill children. Full text in Research Archive
• Früh, Elena Albertini; Lidén, Hilde & Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal (2016). Immigrant mothers balancing care for children with special needs and labour market participation. Full text in Research Archive
• Brekke, Idunn; Früh, Elena Albertini & Lidén, Hilde (2016). Foreldre som har barn med spesielle behov: arbeidsdeltakelse og sykefravær. Full text in Research Archive
• Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal; Früh, Elena Albertini; Halvorsrud, Liv & Lidén, Hilde (2016). How experience immigrant parents of children with special needs their Health and Quality of Life? Full text in Research Archive
• Brekke, Idunn & Nadim, Marjan (2015). Gender differences in labour market participation and sickness absence among parents who care for disabled or chronically ill children. Full text in Research Archive
• Brekke, Idunn; Früh, Elena Albertini; Lidén, Hilde; Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal & Nadim, Marjan (2015). To presentasjoner: 1. Arbeidsdeltakelse og sykefravær blant mødre og fedre som har omsorg for et funksjonshemmet eller alvorlig kronisk sykt barn 2. Innvandrerfamilier med kronisk syke barn og deres tilknytning til arbeidslivet. Et kvalitativ studie av foreldreopplevelser. Full text in Research Archive
• Früh, Elena Albertini; Lidén, Hilde & Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal (2015). Immigrant mothers balancing care for chronically ill or disabled children and labour market participation. Full text in Research Archive
• Früh, Elena Albertini; Lidén, Hilde & Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal (2015). Participation au travail des familles immigrantes avec des enfants ayant des besoins spéciaux. Une étude qualitative norvégienne auprès de parents immigrés. Full text in Research Archive
• Brekke, Idunn; Nadim, Marjan & Reisel, Liza (2014). Ethnic differences in labour market participation, health and sickness absence among parents caring for disabled or chronically ill children. Full text in Research Archive
• Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal; Früh, Elena Albertini & Lidén, Hilde (2014). Ethnic differences in labour market participation, health and sickness absence among parents caring for disabled or chronically ill children. Full text in Research Archive
• Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal; Früh, Elena Albertini; Halvorsrud, Liv & Lidén, Hilde (2014). How do immigrant parent of disabled or chronically ill children experience their own health and quality of life? Full text in Research Archive
• Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal; Früh, Elena Albertini; Halvorsrud, Liv & Lidén, Hilde (2014). How do immigrant parent of disabled or chronically ill children experience their own health and quality of life? Full text in Research Archive
• Kvarme, Lisbeth Gravdal; Lidén, Hilde & Früh, Elena Albertini (2014). To presentasjoner: 1.How do Immigrant Parents of Disabled or Chronically Ill Children Experience their own Health and Quality of Life? 2. Family life and labour market participation among parents caring for disabled or chronically ill children. Full text in Research Archive

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